After years of trying to start construction since its conceptualization in 1993, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 Project is now on track and “all moving forward,” according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
THE Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phase 1 Project is now on track and “all moving forward,” according to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
The PNR Clark Phase 1 Project, which Sec. Tugade describes as “historic,” is currently at 45.82-percent overall progress rate and will be completed in the second quarter of 2024.
“This is very historical dahil apat na beses na sinubukan ang paggawa nitong proyektong ito simula 1993, at ngayon ang kauna-unahan na mayroon tayong konstruksyon,” Tugade explained during a PNR Clark Phase 1 Project site inspection last May 26.
Tugade pointed out that previous administrations made attempts to start the project but have failed to deliver on its construction.
“Parating ground breaking ang usapan, walang konstruksyon. Ngayon 'ho may konstruksyon at parating na ang mga tren,” he said.
Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project (Malolos-Tutuban), also known as the PNR North 1 Project, is a 38-kilometer railway that will connect Tutuban Station in Manila to Malolos in Bulacan.
PNR North 1 has 10 stations, which will cut across the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Valenzuela and the municipalities of Meycuayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto and Malolos in Bulacan.
Once completed, the project is expected to serve 300,000 passengers daily and will reduce travel time from Malolos, Bulacan to Tutuban from an hour and 30 minutes to 35 minutes.
Tugade said he personally inspected the site to prove that the project is continuing and is moving forward.
As proof, the transportation chief said the project’s training simulator will be arriving between September and October, while the trains will arrive in December.
“Siguro tinatanong n'yo kung bakit ako nag-iinspeksyon kahit alam naming may Covid. Ito ay upang maipakita namin sa inyo na ang proyektong ito ay tuloy na tuloy na,” he said.
He added: “Yung mga tren na gagamitin sa proyektong ito ay darating na sa December. Mayroon tayong lugar na tinatayo ng DOTr na paglalagyan ng simulator. Ito ang gagamitin para sa training ng mga taong magpapatakbo at gagabay sa proyektong ito. Handa na hong dumating ang mga simulator ng September o October.”
At least 7,500 workers were employed during the construction of the project, while 2,000 additional jobs will be made available once the project becomes operational, according to Sec. Tugade.
“Layunin din ng proyektong ito na makapagbigay ng kabuhayan sa ating mga kababayan. Sa katunayan, mahigit kumulang 7,500 na katao ang tinatayang mabibigyan ng trabaho habang itinatayo ang proyekto. Dagdag 2,000 na trabaho naman ang inaasahan pang magbubukas oras na maging operational na ito,” Tugade said.
He added that at least 200 former overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are currently employed in the project, while more jobs will be opened prioritizing more OFWs, and displaced Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors. (ONT)
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